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TESOL/Reflecting on the past

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Key sentences

Regretting or being thankful Explaining why
I wish I had (past participle) when I was younger. I would (verb) by now.
Regretting or being thankful Explaining why
I'm really glad I (verb).
It's a good thing I (verb).
If I hadn't, I wouldn't have (past participle).

Drills

Say these sentences without looking.

I wish I had (past participle) when I was younger.
past participle sentence
studied English I wish I had studied English when I was younger.
learned to play the piano I wish I had learned to play the piano when I was younger.
saved more money I wish I had saved more money when I was younger.
started a business I wish I had started a business when I was younger.
I would (verb) by now.
verb sentence
be fluent I would be fluent by now.
have mastered the piano I would have mastered the piano by now.
be rich I would be rich by now.
own my own business I would own my own business by now.
I'm really glad I (verb).
verb sentence
went to college I'm really glad I went to college.
joined my company I'm really glad I joined my company.
kept playing the piano I'm really glad I kept playing the piano.
kept exercising I'm really glad I kept exercising.
If I hadn't, I wouldn't have (past participle).
past participle sentence
gotten a degree If I hadn't, I wouldn't have gotten a degree.
met my husband / wife If I hadn't, I wouldn't have met my husband / wife.
become a great piano player If I hadn't, I wouldn't have become a great piano player.
stayed in shape If I hadn't, I wouldn't have stayed in shape.

Example

Practice this conversation.

Regretting or being thankful Explaining why
I wish I had (studied English) when I was younger. I would (be fluent) by now.
Regretting or being thankful Explaining why
I'm really glad I (went to college). If I hadn't, I wouldn't have (gotten a degree).


Change partners. Use your imagination and change the sentences.

Exercise

Use your imagination. Make your own conversation.

Regretting or being thankful Explaining why

I wish I had ... when I was younger.

I would ... by now.

Regretting or being thankful Explaining why
I'm really glad I .... If I hadn't, I wouldn't have ....


Change partners. Use your imagination and make another conversation.

Practice

Regretting or being thankful Explaining why
Talk about what you are glad about or regret. Explain why.

Further study


Resource type: this resource is a lesson in English as a second language.

This is about learning English.

1 I wish I had ________ when I was younger.

studied English
learned to play the piano
saved more money
started a business

2 I would ________ by now.

be fluent
have mastered the piano
be rich
own my own business

3 I'm really glad I ________.

went to college
joined my company
kept playing the piano
kept exercising

4 If I hadn't, I wouldn't have ________.

gotten a degree
met my husband / wife
become a great piano player
stayed in shape